Artabazos

Artabazos is the Greek form of the Old Persian name *Artavazda, meaning "persevering through truth," a calque of the Avestan name Ašauuazdah.

Etymology

The name derives from the Old Iranian root *Ṛtavazdah-, composed of ṛta- (Avestan aša-) "truth" and -vazdah "powerful, persevering." This combination reflects the Zoroastrian concept of cosmic order (asha) and is closely related to other forms such as Artavasdes (Latinized) and Artabazos (Greek). Variant Greek spellings include Artabazes and Artabasdos, while the Armenian Artavazd and Latin Ardabastus also appear.

Notable Bearers

The most famous bearers were two Achaemenid satraps of Hellespontine Phrygia. Artabazos I flourished in the 5th century BC, possibly the son of Pharnaces, and served under Xerxes I and Artaxerxes I. Artabazos II lived in the 4th century BC, a Persian general who later defected to Alexander the Great's service. Their rule demonstrates the importance of the Phrygian satrapy and the Persian use of Iranian names among the aristocracy.

Cultural Significance

In later Greek and Roman sources, the name was applied to other figures, including the Armenian king Artavasdes I (c. 96–55 BC), though the spelling preferred in historical texts for such rulers is typically Artavasdes ("king of justice"). The name Artabazos, through its Biblical associations (it may appear in historical books discussing Persian courts), has been recognized in studies of ancient onomastics.

Related Names

The underlying Ossetic form, reflected in the Sarmatian and Alan corpus, includes variants such as Adtabagdus. The name's spread into the Caucasus through Greek inscriptions and Parthian influence is well documented.

• Meaning: persevering through truth
• Origin: Old Persian
• Type: Ancient royal and aristocratic name
• Usage regions: Achaemenid Empire, Hellenistic era